OSCAR winner Ben Morris made a triumphant return to his old Oxfordshire school - and this time he was dishing out the trophies.

The Eynsham-born effects artist, who this year walked away with the Academy Award for his work on The Golden Compass, was back at the village's Bartholomew School to hand out awards to high-achieving sixth-formers.

Mr Morris, who has worked on scores of Hollywood blockbusters including Gladiator, Tomb Raider and Troy, received a great reception from Year 12 and 13 pupils when he told them they could achieve anything they put their mind to.

The Oscar winner, who attended the school from 1981 to 1988, was guided in his career by a Bartholomew art teacher who told him he must take the subject if he wanted to work in films.

Mr Morris handed out awards for achievement in sport, writing, art, food technology and religious studies as well as the Goadby Rosebowl Trophy for academic excellence which he himself had won as a teenager.

He also gave a presentation to sixth formers about his work in film during the day on Thursday.

Pupil Sarah Greenwood, 17, said: "Not doing film studies myself I thought I'd find it really difficult to follow Mr Morris's talk, but he presented his career in such an exciting way I followed it all and found it incredibly interesting.

"It was a really good insight into a world that seems a million miles away from the Bartholomew drama studio."

Fellow Year 12 pupil Rachel Onslow, said: "What amazed me was that every detail that makes the animation look natural to the untrained eye was thought about for months and months.

"The work and dedication that Ben Morris has put into his work is incredible."

Nathan Clarke, 17, said: "It was a very inspiring talk that made me really consider a similar career path."

Headteacher Andrew Hamilton said: "Ben contributed massively to an outstanding evening of student celebrations.

"His message to the students, that they could do anything with their careers, given the desire and application, was truly inspirational.

"Ben is a really down-to-earth celebrity.

"He demonstrated himself to be the genuine good guy and a massive inspiration to our students."